Beating the system... With power tools !

Mrwurm · Sep 15, 2003

I may have to consider changing my screen name to MrNonconformist...........

Recently, our refrigerator died. Twice. The technician found that it had no refrigerant in it. It had all leaked out. He said that was not a good sign, as he could find no leaks. "It must be in the coils in the case" he said. He said there was no point in refilling it, but I told him to do it anyway.

Well, he was right. Within a month the fridge was running warm again. We ordered a new one and had it delivered. Later, we learned that we must have the freon removed and the fridge 'tagged' so that it could be carted away. (cost of $60 to $80) But wait, ours does'nt have any freon, it all leaked out!

No good. You have to prove it with 'the tag'. So, not to be deterred, I hatched an evil plot. I have been using my sawzall to cut it into indistinquishable trash size pieces. I've been at it for a year now and I'm nearly finished. Two chunks to go and I'm home free.

So, was it worth it? No, not in a practical, time managment cost/value sense, but it sure feels good.

gspig · Sep 15, 2003

I feel your pain. I have an airconditioner to get rid of. I broke open a copper line, so it is obviously empty. Got the same "it has to have a tag saying its empty". I think I'm going to take the coils off (might be good for something) and bury the rest.

Bird · Sep 15, 2003

Jerry, if you didn't know it, what you did is quite common; you may be more of a conformist than you think. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And speaking of freon, our house air-conditioner has worked just fine all summer, then yesterday morning when I got up, it was running, but putting out very little air. I shut it down and found the evaporator iced up worse than any I've ever seen.

Now I know how to put the freon in, but sold my gauges last year since I don't have the license anymore to buy the freon. There's an air-conditioner sales and service place less than a quarter mile from us, and they said $75 for the service call (first half hour), then $75 an hour if it took any longer, plus $30 for the first pound of R-22 and $20 for each additional pound. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Wish I was in a business where I could sell stuff for 10 times what I paid for it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Fortunately, my daughter had a friend in that business who just left here and charged a total of $50, and the air-conditioner is now blowing 52 degree air again. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

bgott · Sep 15, 2003

I have a scrap man who will take A/Cs and refrigerators all day long. I guess the scrap yard will take them here if the compressor is out of them so he cuts the lines, drops the compressor and throws them both in the truck. If he isn't around I move them to the curb and someone else will pick them up.

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 15, 2003

Here's another way to beat the system on that problem. Since it no longer cools you still have a very well insulated box there that, if you take out the switch that shuts off the light and leave the light on all the time, will be the perfect place to store welding rods. They're protected from the elements and kept free of humidity by the heat generated by the lightbulb. You might have to experiment with the wattage to get the heat you need.

Mrwurm · Sep 16, 2003

Interesting comment, Gary. Why do I want to keep my welding rods away from humidity? I don't do much of anything to protect them right now. What benefits would I experience from low-humidity storage? Hey, wait a minute, now you got me thinking about cigars. A giant humidor!

jinman · Sep 16, 2003

( If he isn't around I move them to the curb and someone else will pick them up.
)

Brad, I have a similar experience in Grand Prairie, TX. The city trash company will pick up all appliances for free, but they rarely stay on the curb more than a few minutes before someone totes them away. A few years ago, I had a microwave quit and put it on the curb. Within 15 minutes, I saw a guy on a bicycle hauling it away. A few days later a little girl came by while I was out in the yard and said, "My Daddy got your microwave...but it doesn't work."

Well, it was all I could do to keep a straight face as I said, "Oh! I'm so sorry it won't work." I guess some people put "good" stuff out on the curb, but I haven't seen any I'd feel like picking up, especially on a bicycle. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Docsknotinn · Sep 16, 2003

Jim, thats hilarious ! I bet there was quite a look on her face /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif LOL. Here the trash co will still pick them up. This whole thing with freon has got to be the biggest scam of the last century between the government and private industry. Bird if you think the freon is pricey try checking out the cost of the new stuff. Add to that its less efficient and the AC units are nearly twice the size because the units run so hot. I guess big brother forgot to take in to consideration all of the chloriene that evaporates from pools every day eating that hole in the O zone. But them they'll probably come out with a synthetic chloriene that costs ten times as much now that I said that. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Dave

MossRoad · Sep 16, 2003

"My Daddy got your microwave...but it doesn't work." 

In our old neighborhood, if someone got your microwave and it didn't work, you'd get it back... usually through your car window /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Mrwurm · Sep 16, 2003

Jim, I put out a radio for the trash a few years ago. There was nothing wrong with it, I just had way too many radios lying around.

Some kidded picked it up and carted it off. Later, that same kid came and knocked on my door. He was about ten years old and so excited he could barely contain himself.

"I got your radio to work" !!!

I did'nt quite know what to say. I think I congratulated him and told him to enjoy it.